The Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the Birds’ Eggs (Collection) Regulations, 1972 adding Cosmoledo to the schedule for birds’ eggs collection.
This was during a scheduled Cabinet meeting at which a number of legal and policy memoranda were considered.
Under this amendment, Bird Island has also been designated as an area where birds’ eggs can be cropped.
Prior to this amendment, Desnoeufs and lllot (Fregate) were the only islands designated for birds’ eggs cropping.

Green Tree Investment, a subsidiary IDC, opened the doors to its newly constructed luxurious apartments for viewing on Saturday.
Constructed by Green Island Construction as part of the Perseverance Point Condominiums project, the apartment bloc consists of 19 units which are available for purchase on the open market.
Located adjacent to the condominiums recently built for graduates and young professionals, the modern ocean front residences are being sold on a free-hold, first come first served basis.
The bloc’s one one-bedroom studio is going for R1.8 million, its two one-bedroom units are priced from R3.6 million to R3.8 million and its four two-bedroom units are priced from R4 million to R4.3 million.
The prices for the remaining 12 three-bedroom units are set between R5.1 million to R5.5 million.
All units include built-in wardrobes, bathroom vanities, kitchen cabinets and have some appliances already installed but buyers will have the option to purchase the luxury units fully furnished, at an additional cost.
Unlike the condominiums available to graduates and professionals who must be first-time home buyers, the luxury apartments are targeted towards anyone who can afford them, Seychellois and non-Seychellois.
The luxury apartments were conceptualised and constructed to subsidise the condominiums for graduates and professional first-time home buyers.
These condominiums are being provided at much lower costs compared to the luxury apartments, with a two-bedroom unit priced at R1.2 million and a three-bedroom unit at R1.5 million, which is not the real costs of these apartments.

IDC welcomes Mr. Denis Matatiken as the newest member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Matatiken is currently the Special Advisor to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change.
He replaces Mr. Alain de Commarmond who has served on the IDC Board for the past 3 years. IDC thanks Mr. de Commarmond for the invaluable contribution made to the advancement of the company. 
The composition of the new IDC board is as follows:
Mr. Patrick Berlouis (Chairman)
Mr. Glenny Savy - CEO (ex-officio)
Mr. Christian Lionnet - Deputy CEO (ex-officio)
Mrs. Sherin Francis (Director)
Ms. Angelique Antat (Director)
Mrs. Angele Lebon (Director)
Mr. Patrick Lablache (Director)
Mr. Willy Confait (Director)
Mr. Denis Matatiken (Director)
The new Board has been appointed for a period of 3 years effective from 15th February 2020.

​​Bel Eau primary school has received a new block that has been constructed and sponsored by the Green Island Construction Company.
The new block, which consists of a conference room, a resource room and two sets of staff toilets, has cost R1.5 million and was inaugurated by the Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Mrs. Jeanne Simeon and the chairman of the Islands Development Company (IDC) board, Mr. Patrick Berlouis.
The Director General in the education department, Mr. Cyril Pillay, noted that this project is definitely a very important step in the public-private partnership.
“In 2017, Green Island Construction Company (GICC) built a new block of classrooms at English River secondary school with similar arrangements. It is very heartening to note that GICC has taken heed of our call once again and shows that education is a shared responsibility.” said Mr Pillay.

In an effort to encourage more Seychellois to visit and enjoy the outer islands, and following a board decision, IDC has reduced airfares to all outer islands with guest accommodation, regardless of their distance from Mahé, to a flat rate of R3,000 with immediate effect.
In a press conference, the Chief Executive Officer of IDC, Mr. Glenny Savy gave details of the facilities on the different islands with a guesthouse to accommodate Seychellois residents.
Before the reduction, Seychellois visiting Farquhar paid an airfare of R7,500 and R10,000 for Astove.
Mr. Savy explained that Seychellois can immediately visit islands like Silhouette, Desroches, Farquhar, Remire, Platte, Astove except for Alphonse where he noted a new guesthouse is being built and it will be ready by December.
​​He also gave details of access either by plane or boat, payment process and other important logistic details.
For Silhouette, which is closest to Mahé, the return boat fare is R200 while accommodation is R100 per day and R500 is charged per day for a three-course meal and the latter also applies for meals on all the outer islands.
For the other outer islands mentioned, the return airfare is now R3000, while accommodation cost is R250 per day. 
Mr. Savy also announced that the IDC will in the coming days submit documents to the Planning Authority for a project to build six additional chalets which will double the capacity of Silhouette guesthouse.
“Emphasis on Silhouette is because many people love it as it is close to Mahé, more flexible and easy to access,” Mr. Savy said.
He added that the new facilities on Silhouette which will be more comfortable and will offer more privacy are expected to be completed and ready by June next year or before.
Mr. Savy noted that the number of available rooms on these islands do not necessarily mean the same number of seats on flights for transfers to and from these islands. He stressed that the availability of seats will depend on the number not taken by hotels on these islands.
Meanwhile, Mr. Savy explained that the reduction in return fares has been possible because the IDC is absorbing the cost.
Alongside the reduction in fares for residents, Mr. Savy also announced that IDC will also put in place a programme for senior citizens to visit Silhouette.
An environment programme for school children in collaboration with Island Conservation Society (ICS) and the Ministry of Education is also being finalised and is expected to start by the end of the year or early next year.

Family members and friends joined officials of the Islands Development Company in a memorial mass at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception to remember the four crew members who disappeared in a tragedy at sea, a little more than a year ago.
It was in the early hours of 26th August last year that the cargo vessel Sea Horse, which was carrying a consignment of fuel and food to Coetivy, caught fire and sank not far from the island.
The search for the missing crew – Darren Morel, Nigel Franchette, Norcy Serret and Ranjit Premathilaka a Sri Lankan national – has until today been in vain.
During the mass organised by the IDC, family members tearfully shared their pain and sorrow of their painful loss.
In an interview to the press after the service, IDC’s Chief Executive Officer, Glenny Savy announced that the company would continue to support the children, especially in their education.
He also added that the IDC has appointed a lawyer to help the families to obtain a death certificate for their loved ones as well as support them through the legal process which would ensue to obtain compensation.

Employees had their eyes examined to detect vision problems and eye disorders during a free eye screening camp organised by the Rising Lions Club Seychelles at the company’s head office at the New Port.
The eye screening, organised with the support of opticians from Optic Seychelles, started at 9am and extended through the early hours of the afternoon.  Over 50 employees had their eyes examined, in the brief exam aimed at detecting vision problems and eye disorders.
Chief executive of IDC, Glenny Savy made an appearance during the camp and thanked the Rising Lions for the initiative as well as the senior Lions from sister clubs who also brought their support for the camp.
Govin Pillay, a member of the Rising Lions Club, said that the welfare officer from IDC requested such a camp and Optic Seychelles collaborated with the club to realise it.
“Eye care is important and we find that from our previous eye screening camps, quite a lot of people have undetected vision problems. Eye screening should be part of everyone’s regular health routine but most people tend to overlook the importance of screenings until they start to encounter problems and symptoms,” he said.
Of the employees screened, a number were found to have some sort of vision or eye problem and have been referred to relevant health facilities.